The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, and his Deputy, Honourable Richard Gyan-Mensah, have inspected emergency restoration works on the Ashaiman section of the Tema-Achimota 161kV double-circuit transmission lines. The visit followed damage to one of the transmission towers caused by a tanker explosion beneath the lines.

On Friday, 10 July 2026, a metal plate from a fuel tanker that exploded during welding work flew more than 350 metres and struck one of the towers. The impact compromised its structural integrity and created the risk of the affected tower, as well as related structures, collapsing.

Since the incident, GRIDCo’s Line Maintenance team, led by Mr Johnson Illupeju, Chief Technician Engineer, Technical Services Department (TSD), and Mr Samuel Odoom, Chief Technician Engineer, Line Maintenance Section, Southern Network Department (SND), has been working around the clock to restore the tower.

Briefing the Ministers, GRIDCo Chief Executive (CE), Ing. Frank Otchere, supported by the Tema Area Manager, Ing. Abraham Doku, explained the circumstances surrounding the incident and the extent of the damage. Ing. Otchere also used the opportunity to highlight the dangers of encroachment on transmission corridors, warning of the potentially fatal consequences should transmission towers or lines collapse.

Dr. Jinapor commended the Line Maintenance team for its efforts to restore the tower as quickly and safely as possible. Speaking on the wider challenge of encroachment, the Minister said it was his “duty to ensure that GRIDCo staff work safely”. He added, “People are not supposed to encroach the Right-of-Way (RoW) as we all know”. He said repeated appeals to encroachers to leave the RoW had not yielded the desired results and warned that “where persuasion fails, force must be applied legally.”

The Minister has consequently given encroachers a one-month notice to evacuate the RoW. One month, he said, was sufficient time to leave voluntarily, after which there would be a “massive exercise to eject all who fail to move on their own. We will work with the Police, the Military and all appropriate stakeholders on this exercise”. He described the notice as a serious warning and cautioned the public against waiting for a major incident before action is taken. “We cannot wait for a serious incident to happen before we start blaming politicians. When the law comes on you, you will face the full force of the law,” he said. He encouraged encroachers to use the opportunity to leave voluntarily, adding, “This is the opportunity to do the right thing”.

The GRIDCo CE and Management Team also commended Ing. Doku and the Line Maintenance team for their efforts. “The Management Team appreciates what you are doing,” Ing. Otchere said. “Know that we are solidly behind you and are ready to provide you with all the needed resources to finish this work”, he added.